Children's Home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

Unique reference number SC059635 Inspection date 23/06/2011 Inspector Robert Curr Type of inspection Full Provision subtype

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Date of last inspection 28/03/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight young people of either sex, aged from 12 to 18 years, who may be experiencing a range of social, emotional and behavioural problems. The home offers a supportive living environment on a medium to long-term basis.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

The home has high aspirations for the young people it cares for. Individual placement plans clearly set out how the young people’s emotional, social, health and therapeutic needs are to be met. The young people receive outstanding support from a stable and experienced care team that helps them to make significant progress, which increases their confidence, self-esteem and self-control.

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Overall effectiveness

The young people have exceptionally good relationships with the staff and feel that they take an interest in them and care about what they are doing. Young people are confident about talking to staff and say that they are listened to. Appropriate boundaries are maintained and consistent messages are given to the young people. Whilst young people have a guide to the home, it does not contain the contact details of the independent reviewing officer, or the Children's Rights Director, for young people to refer to in times of need.

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Overall effectiveness

The young people's views are sought and taken into consideration on how the home is run and on future developments. Young people are able to bring about changes that affect their daily life and future planning. Young people enjoy living at the home and talk positively about their experiences. Young people leaving care are given a realistic practically based experience that helps in the preparation for independent living. Family members comment extremely positively on the services that are provided and the progress that the young people make.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the children's guide contains information to enable young people to contact their independent reviewing officer and the Children's Rights Director. (NMS 13.5)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make significant progress in most aspects of their lives. Young people receive highly individualised support which enables them to develop self-confidence; self-esteem and have a better understanding of their abilities. Young people have a good understanding of their personal issues and, with excellent support from the staff, are enabled to take positive steps in managing these. All of the young people are valued and respected as individuals. They are all given the same opportunities regardless of age or ability.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The young people have an improved record of school attendance and make good educational progress. Individualised arrangements ensure that the young people receive education in accordance with their assessed needs. Staff actively promote education as part of preparation for adulthood and provide practical and emotional support to the young people. Staff have an informed understanding of the young people's education and are able to provide consistent and meaningful support. This is achieved through the exchanging of reports, regular day-to-day contact with the school and attendance at school events.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The physical and emotional well-being of the young people is fully promoted. The young people routinely attend appointments with their doctor, dentist and optician which ensures attention to any emerging or ongoing health or emotional needs. Individual health and therapeutic plans clearly identify the young people’s specific needs. One family member comments positively on the arrangements for the young people to access health and therapeutic services.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The young people, where appropriate, visit friends at their houses or alternatively invite them to the home. They also, subject to any agreed restrictions, are encouraged and emotionally and practically supported to maintain contact with their family and significant others.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Within the home the young people develop a range of life and independence skills. Young people help with daily chores and assist in cooking meals for each other and the adults.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people appreciate and enjoy their placement in the home. One of the young people explained that, 'the home is helping me in all sorts of ways, like school and things like that. It’s a good place for me to be‘.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . Young people enjoy excellent constructive relationships with the staff which are based on mutual trust and respect. Young people develop strong emotional attachments with members of staff and a confidence that they will be helped and supported with any issues or concerns. A young person explained that one of the best things about the home is, 'having so many people look after me‘. Young people also speak fondly of the dedicated night staff team and the ancillary staff. Young people noted that 'they really care for us when we need it'. A relative commented 'when I visit the home, I am told they are happy and that the staff respond to them well’.

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Quality of care

Young people are listened to and are encouraged to express their views and opinions. They are encouraged to make personal choices and there is no assumption that any are incapable of doing this. The young people are routinely consulted and take part in discussions on matters that affect their daily life and in key decision making. Young people are able to affect changes that impact on individual and group living. For example, young people have been involved in successful negotiations about having more time to themselves, changes to activities, sanctions and bedtimes. Group discussions and individual direct work sessions help the young people to understand why it may not be possible to always act on their wishes.

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Quality of care

Staff have high aspirations for the young people. Staff act proactively when presented with challenges that may have an impact on a young person's progress or development. For example, the home contributes to the provision of additional resources and activities enabling young people to be distracted from making poor decisions. The well-being of the individual young people is at the centre of care practices with the home. A police liaison office comments 'I am extremely happy with the service provided for the young people. The staff are always professional and they put the young people first‘.

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Quality of care

The young people are cared for in line with their individual care plans which clearly identify their individual needs. Care plans are consistently monitored and progress is evaluated recorded and reported to parents and social workers and significant others on a regular basis. Individual support is provided in accordance to need by key workers and in close liaison with external agencies. Some of the young people regularly access therapeutic support. The young people routinely contribute and participate in the statutory reviews of their placement.

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Quality of care

Young people are consulted on menus and there is an emphasis on homemade meals. One of the young people explained, 'staff have talked to us about healthy eating and I know how important it is to eat healthily’. The young people understand why there is limit on the amount of sweets and carbonated drinks available in the house. Young people learn about and experience food from different cultures. The young people lead an active lifestyle including access to walking, swimming and cycling. The young people are generally very healthy and there is limited use of prescribed medication. Young people’s medical welfare is fully safeguarded by the organisation's procedures for administering non-prescribed medication. Appropriate records are kept and consequently staff are able to accurately check when a young person has been given any non-prescribed medication. In the case of a medical emergency the young people have access to a suitably qualified first aider at all

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Quality of care

The home provides a safe, pleasant and healthy environment which young people enjoy living in. The property blends in with neighbouring properties and resembles a large family home. The accommodation is well maintained and furnished with domestic-style furniture. The accommodation is well resourced and provides good spaces for group and individual activities. The young people have their own bedrooms and these reflect individual personalities and interests. For example bedrooms are personalised using posters, pictures, crafts and belongings. Young people spend time together in a TV lounge or pool room, or on their own in the quiet room or their bedrooms. Young people and staff are currently creating a space in which they can be creative and undertake art and craft work.

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Quality of care

Not all young people comment positively on their independence programme, however, one young person explained how she feels more confident and prepared for independent living.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Staff take positive steps to ensure that the young people live in a safe, secure and caring environment. Young people feel safe in the home and particularly make reference to the availability and access to the staff team at all times. Young people have confidence in the staff being able to help them. The staff openly and routinely discuss potential and actual risks and dangers with the young people to help them understand what they need to do to keep themselves safe. All significant incidents are discussed with the young people and strategies are devised to help prevent reoccurrence.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are incidents when young people are reported as missing from care. Young people generally listen to advice that they are given. One young person explained, 'the staff keep us safe, they talk to you about dangers and stop you from hurting yourself’. The looked after children's police liaison officer is in regular contact with the young people. He states that staff are clearly well informed in relation to keeping young people safe to reduce the incidents of criminalising the young people in their care. The young people understand that the rules in the home are devised to help keep them safe but do not like all of them.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected from bullying. Young people said bullying is sometimes an issue in the home and that staff take immediate steps if there is an indication that bullying is taking place. Young people comment positively on the help and support provided by the staff if they experience bullying at school. The home works cooperatively with the school and reports and follows up incidents that are reported by the young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The welfare of the young people is fully promoted and the young people are protected from abuse. Care staff are fully aware of the home's child protection procedures and have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities in responding to an allegation or suspicion of abuse.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive and proactive behaviour management strategies are consistently applied and these have a significant impact on the young people's behaviour. The young people are encouraged to reflect on their behaviour to consider how it impacts on others and what strategies may be used to prevent a reoccurrence. There is minimal use of measures of control. Sanctions are not frequently used, those applied are fair, proportionate and discussed with the young people. Staff receive regular training on positive handling techniques and use these effectively to de-escalate, divert and manage the young people's challenging behaviour. Comprehensive individual behaviour plans ensure that there is a consistent management of behaviour within the home. Young people are provided with therapeutic support which helps them to develop an understanding of their behaviour and learn how to manage it. One young person explained, 'I have been a nightmare in the past, but not recently because I

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive steps are taken to ensure that young people are generally safe from fire and other hazards. Comprehensive risk assessments identify risks associated with premises, environment and activities.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

The provider meets the aims and objectives that are set out in the Statement of Purpose. Young people receive information on the home in a colourful and accessible format which allows then to have an understanding of what care is provided by the home.

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Leadership and management

Young people are provided with consistent and good standards of care from a stable, competent and well-trained staff team. Sufficient staff ensure that both group and individual needs are met. The young people receive care from a well-supported care team who provide good role models to the young people. Staff undertake regulatory and service specific training which provides them with skills, knowledge and competencies required to meet the needs of the young people. The organisation demonstrates a commitment to qualifications and training. Staff receive regular supervision enabling them to reflect on their practice and relationships with the young people.

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Leadership and management

The young people live in a home that is effectively managed. The registered manager and senior staff team provide effective leadership and management of the home. There are established internal and external systems to monitor the quality of care and to ensure compliance with regulations and national minimum standards. Reports identify good practices and any areas for improvement. The views of young people, parents, social workers and significant others are routinely sought on the services that are provided.

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Leadership and management

The manager has a good understanding of the home's strengths and weaknesses. These are yet to be addressed through a comprehensive annual development plan. The organisation and the registered manager are committed to continuous improvement in the management and delivery of service. There were no actions or recommendations raised at the last inspection.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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